Review: City of Angels

Synopsis:

Michael is a 17 year old amateur boxer living in a group home in East Los Angeles. With the help of his trainer, a former prize fighter and ex-convict named Jerry, Michael has overcome early childhood tragedy to become one of the top amateur boxers in the nation and earned an invitation to the Olympic trials.

As he awaits his final bout, an unforeseen incident forces Michael to move into a new group home where he meets Maria, a house manager with a heart of gold, and Lizzie, a newly arrived 6 year old girl who is struggling to adjust to her new reality. Over time Michael, Maria, Lizzie, and the other residents of the home come together to form what they all want most in life: a family.

Just when everything seems perfect, their world is turned upside down. And this time, Michael can see no way to save himself or the family he has grown to love.

City of Angels is an epic saga that takes you on an emotional journey that will touch your heart. 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

City of Angels by K. Patrick is indeed an epic tale. Heartfelt, inspirational, and engaging. As I started to read, I became hooked. The characters immediately drew my attention toon to their stories. Sad, realistic, and believable. City of Angels is a beautiful novel about surviving and overcoming obstacles. Life isn’t easy nor perfect. K. Patrick has captured the meaning of life and wrote it in way that made me love it. A journey worth reading…

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Review: Humanity’s Way Forward

Synopsis:

“The echoes of those scars can clearly be heard in Edge of the Known’s music. But one can also discern, quite distinctly, that other inexplicable thing that is within us all, the undying flame that transcends our wounds and sufferings…” 

Brandon Chane had always seen life through the eyes of an outcast, a misfit, a young man at odds with the world and with himself. Now they’re calling him a wounded healer; a shamanic Pied Piper for the throngs of alienated youth; a thief of fire. 

He wonders if he and his band can escape the claims that the world has suddenly laid upon them. But what about the cherished dream that he’s struggled so desperately to fulfill, the dream that finally seems to be coming to fruition?

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Humanity’s Way Forward by Seth Mullins is epic. His novel depicts a group of young men wanting to become a famous rock band. Here, I got to watch them bond like family, sacrifice things in order to make their dream come true, and how fame hit them hard. Each character felt real. Their band was good. They worked hard and played hard. Yet, being famous sometimes isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. They soar and fall throughout the pages. The plot was entertaining from the start. I was hooked immediately. It was one emotional rollercoaster ride after another. Seth Mullins did an excellent job in writing this novel. He protrayed humans at their weakest, worst, and best moments. Overall, it’s a worthy read that I recommend to all readers. 

Review: City of Miracles

Synopsis:

Revenge. It’s something Sigrud je Harkvaldsson is very, very good at. Maybe the only thing. 
So when he learns that his oldest friend and ally, former Prime Minister Shara Komayd, has been assassinated, he knows exactly what to do and that no mortal force can stop him from meting out the suffering Shara’s killers deserve. 
Yet as Sigrud pursues his quarry with his customary terrifying efficiency, he begins to fear that this battle is an unwinnable one. Because discovering the truth behind Shara’s death will require him to take up arms in a secret, decades-long war, face down an angry young god, and unravel the last mysteries of Bulikov, the city of miracles itself. And perhaps most daunting of all finally face the truth about his own cursed existence. 

Rating: 5-stars

Review: 

City of Miracles by Robert Jackson Bennett is an epic science fiction fantasy. Robert Jackson Bennett has impressed me with his writing. I haven’t read a book of his until this one, and I am thrilled I did. This novel of his, has a powerful emotional journey. One that sucks readers straight into its emotions. Sadness, anger, loss and many more. I enjoyed following this closing piece of the trilogy. Fast-paced story. City of Miracles offers action, adventure and a deep sense of attachment. It kept me captivated. The characters are complex and the plot is woven in a way that kept me from putting down…overall, I highly recommend this masterpiece to readers everywhere. 

Review: Goodbye Days

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

What if you could spend one last day with someone you lost?

One day Carver Briggs had it all—three best friends, a supportive family, and a reputation as a talented writer at his high school, Nashville Academy for the Arts.

The next day he lost it all when he sent a simple text to his friend Mars, right before Mars, Eli, and Blake were killed in a car crash.

Now Carver can’t stop blaming himself for the accident, and he’s not the only one. Eli’s twin sister is trying to freeze him out of school with her death-ray stare. And Mars’s father, a powerful judge, is pressuring the district attorney to open a criminal investigation into Carver’s actions.

Luckily, Carver has some unexpected allies: Eli’s girlfriend, the only person to stand by him at school; Dr. Mendez, his new therapist; and Blake’s grandmother, who asks Carver to spend a Goodbye Day with her to share their memories and say a proper goodbye to his friend.

Soon the other families are asking for a Goodbye Day with Carver, but he’s unsure of their motives. Will they all be able to make peace with their losses, or will these Goodbye Days bring Carver one step closer to a complete breakdown or—even worse—prison? (less)

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner is a stunning YA novel. Instantly, the plot dragged me into its depth. Deep, emotional, and troubling. As I read further, I wasn’t sure of what the outcome would be. Intrigue, sheer curiosity, and the intensity of the tale hooked me. Friends, death, loss, and uncertainty are major themes found on every page. The main character, Carver Briggs, has a way of luring me further into his life journey. Blame, angry, and heated moments are sure to follow…overall, Goodbye Days has the effect of breaking me into a million pieces and pulling me back together. That kind of epic adventure is truly one worth reading. I recommend this title by Jeff Zentner to readers worldwide. Whether one is a teen or an adult, the pages will send you falling into the book.

Review: Three Little Words

Synopsis:

“Sunshine, you’re my baby and I’m your only mother. You must mind the one taking care of you, but she’s not your mama.” Ashley Rhodes-Courter spent nine years of her life in fourteen different foster homes, living by those words. As her mother spirals out of control, Ashley is left clinging to an unpredictable, dissolving relationship, all the while getting pulled deeper and deeper into the foster care system. 

Painful memories of being taken away from her home quickly become consumed by real-life horrors, where Ashley is juggled between caseworkers, shuffled from school to school, and forced to endure manipulative,humiliating treatment from a very abusive foster family. In this inspiring, unforgettable memoir, Ashley finds the courage to succeed – and in doing so, discovers the power of her own voice. 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Three Little Words by Ashley Rhodes-Courter is a biography that readers everywhere need to read. It gives readers a deep insider’s view to the foster care system. Sure we all think that it’s great the kids will be taken care of and all. But not all foster homes are perfect. Just like the fact that Americans are forced to believe about a 1950’s ‘ideal American family image’ that no family actually lived up to…society isn’t always that great. Inside this nonfiction book, I got to journey through the writer’s life as a foster kid and how she overcame the obstacles. I was deeply troubled by what occurred to her while in foster care and my heart tore in a million pieces. No child should have it worse when being taken care of…yet this woman did. I spent some time in foster care myself due to both my parents; however, my time in there was okay. But not all are lucky. I knew what happens. I remember seeing my day taken away from us kids the day before foster care picked us, kids, up…thus, relating to Ashley Rhodes-Courter’s memoir was easy and sad. Bad memories…Three Little Words is a well-written book. I highly recommend it to readers worldwide. 

Review: Jorie and the Magic Stones

Synopsis:

When Marjorie went to live with her frosty maiden aunt, she couldn’t imagine the adventures she would have with dragons — good and bad — and all the strange creatures that live in a mysterious land beneath the Tarn. The spunky 9-year-old redhead forges an unlikely friendship with an insecure young boy named Rufus who lives with his crusty grandfather next door. When Jorie — for that is what she prefers to be called — finds a dusty ancient book about dragons, she learns four strange words that will send the two of them into a mysterious land beneath the Tarn, riddled with enchantment and danger. Hungry for adventure, the children take the plunge, quite literally, and find themselves in the magic land of Cabrynthius. 

Upon meeting the good dragon, the Great Grootmonya, Jorie and Rufus are given a quest to find the three Stones of Maalog — stones of enormous power — and return them to their rightful place in Cabrynthius. Their mission is neither easy nor safe, and is peppered with perils in the form of the evil black half-dragon who rules the shadowy side of the land. They have to deal with a wicked and greedy professor, the tragic daughter of the bad dragon, caves of fire, rocky mountainous climbs, and a deadly poisonous butterfly. 

Jorie must rely on her wits and courage to win the day? Can she do this? Can she find all three Stones? Can she save Rufus when disaster befalls him? Can she emerge victorious? She and Rufus have some hair-raising challenges, in which they learn valuable lessons about loyalty, bravery, and friendship. 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Jorie and the Magic Stones by A. H. Richardson is a children’s fantasy full of magic. Adventure, friendship, and danger can be found within the these pages. I was immediately drawn into the tale. A. H. Richardson has a way with leading readers further into her world of fiction. As an adult, I was fascinated with the journey. Dragons, magic, and tons of action to keep me entertained all night long. The charcaters are three-dimensional. It’s easy to relate to them and get lost within the scenes. Traveling a magical land, completing a challenge, and finding oneself is a lot of fun. Rich, engaging, and well-told. Jorie is a brave girl who journeys far to help find three stones and return them. Along the way, things happen. Danger is close by and the suspense was phenomenal. I can this book being loved by both adults and children alike. The story elements are appealing to all ages. Overall, I highly recommend Jorie and the Magic Stones to readers worldwide. 

Review: Electric Souk

Synopsis:

Ireland’s gone bust, and with it Aisling Finn’s life. She flees austerity for adventure in the desert. But the Arabia she finds is not that of her dreams. Everyone is chasing a fast buck, a fast woman and another G&T. Expats and locals alike prickle with paranoia. Debonair fixer, Brian Rothmann, charms Aisling with champagne brunches and nights at Bedouin camps. But is Brian a hero or a desperate expat prepared to go to any lengths to get what he wants? Is this Aisling? Or is he using her as bait? Her only hope is Hisham, a local activist. But where do his loyalties lie? Aisling faces severe peril when the sleazy expat and blood-lusting desert worlds collide, as the Arab Spring erupts. She has to ask, whom can she trust? Can she trust her instincts? Humanity blisters in this haunting, lyrical thriller about trust and treachery.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Electric Souk by Rose McGinty is by far an interesting read. It instantly takes readers on an epic journey. A young woman leaves her homeland for work in another country. A country full of war, distrust, and danger. The stakes are high. Never knowing who to trust, Aisling Finn puts her life in the hands of those around her. Spies, secret police, and work fill her days. At first, the novel shows Aisling following people as they live a fast life full of drinking and good times. But fear hangs deeply in the air. I never knew what to expect next. Rose McGinty writes a superb novel. Suspense, intrigue, and the mysterious lure of what may come. Electric Souk is definitely an electrifying tale. Resistance, destruction, and secrets on every page. The intensity builds. The charcaters are written in a way that visually tugs readers further into the book. Loyalties and deception are major the,es surrounding these interesting charcaters. Overall, I highly recommend reading Electric Souk to all. 

Review: Vault of Dreams

Synopsis:

Albanland. Emerald hills and ice blue lochs, bordered by Nørds raiders and the haughty monarchs of South Angle, each dynasty eager to seize lands weakened by a civil war in which a usurper has risen to seize the cloven throne.

Morgance, Faer Princess of the Night.

And by her side, the fearsome Ultan Skölhammer, sworn Guardian of the Crown.

But Rhoswen, rightful heir to the throne, princess in exile, leads a final uprising from the depths of the forest, an uprising that twists together the lives of the most unlikely companions.

A notorious thief accused of a crime she did not commit.

A baird apprentice searching for the meaning of life.

A pair of brothers who can’t seem to stay out of trouble.

And a gypsy bound to the ancient artifact known only as the Vault of Dreams. 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Vault of Dreams by Luke Taylor is is an outstanding YA novel. I read a lot of YA books and this one has beat them all. Luke Taylor has created a fictional world where the rightful ruler is fighting to gain her throne back. War breaks out, loyalty is shown, and a budding romance begins. This fantasy novel has everything. Action, adventure, friendships, and a fight worth reading. Absolutely, an epic tale. 

The Vault of Dreams reads as vividly as the Lord of Rings books. I was hooked. The rightful queen, Arelyn, is a character to hold. Watching her, throughout the pages was fun.  Niles is another interesting character. Him and Finleigh are great. Finleigh is a young gsypie. Niles turns into a Lord at such a young age. Morgance is a bold and strong character. Evil too. Arelyn and Finleigh become friends. Two good charcaters. I liked them both. Strong female protagonists.  Each character both bad and good added to the plot. The exciting part was that each got to tell the story from their point of view. That was a susrpise. Most writers who try this, end up losing readers due to the point of view taking away or not adding enough to the story. I found the changing point of views to being good. It was like stepping into each character’s soul. Understanding them better. I easily see this book as a crossover read. Both yong adults and adult alike will get lost in within this world. Luke Taylor has outdone himself in this spectacular piece. I look forward to reading more by him in the future. 

Review: The Children of Manor House

Synopsis:

Mikey and his friends thought they had successfully freed the ghosts of the children in the garden, but they were mistaken. Now faced with a new mystery, Mikey and his friends must enter a haunted mansion, uncover its secrets, and finally bring the killer to justice once and for all in this final book of the Children series. Can Mikey trust a ghost to solve a mystery one last time?

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

R. A. Douthitt’s last novel, The Children of Manor House, in the series is superb. I loved it! Her writing is the best. I found myself pulled into the book. The characters once more were beyond just interesting. I was intrigued. Readers will find humor, ghosts, and danger inside…the danger meter has upped since the last book. Mickey and his friends must s get rid of the evil ghosts forever or else risk others getting hurt again. Lexie, Mickey’s girlfriend and best friend, was taken hostage last time. 

Now, his family is being threatened by past murderers who have died and are now haunting his hometown. Then, there’s the group of mean boy ghosts who take fun in harming people. In order to get rid them, Mickey and his friends will need to get the truth of what happened to Annabelle and others inside of the Manor she calls home. Annabelle is a new ghost readers will meet in this series. Her evil ghost sister along with the other evil ghosts are tormenting her and Mickey. Only time will tell if Mickey and his friends will solve the case once and for all. Overall, I enjoyed reading this new title by R. A. Douthitt. Her writing has a way of coming to life. The Children of Manor House is one thacan be read by children and adults. I highly recommend it to all. 

Review: The Dog Who Was There

Synopsis:

No one expected Barley to have an encounter with the Messiah. He was homeless, hungry, and struggling to survive in first century Jerusalem. Most surprisingly, he was a dog. But through Barley’s eyes, the story of a teacher from Galilee comes alive in a way we’ve never experienced before.

Barley’s story begins in the home of a compassionate woodcarver and his wife who find Barley as an abandoned, nearly-drowned pup. Tales of a special teacher from Galilee are reaching their tiny village, but when life suddenly changes again for Barley, he carries the lessons of forgiveness and love out of the woodcarver’s home and through the dangerous roads of Roman occupied Judea.

On the outskirts of Jerusalem, Barley meets a homeless man and petty criminal named Samid. Together, Barley and his unlikely new master experience fresh struggles and new revelations. Soon Barley is swept up into the current of history, culminating in an unforgettable encounter with the truest master of all as he bears witness to the greatest story ever told. 

Rating:  4.5-stars

Review:

The Dog  Who Was There by Ron Marasco is one of the most interesting biblical stories I have read. It is told through the eyes and ears of a dog, named Barley. Barley takes readers on a wonderful journey. The emotional tugs at one’s heart is hard to ignore. This story wasn’t to be about, Jesus, the Kind Man. It was more about Jesus and his teaching. Along the path, readers got to meet a variety of new characters. Each one holding a piece to this tale. Their stories made the learning experience quite stunning. 

Ron Marasco has brilliantly led me back into the past. Exactly during the time of Jesus. Here, I got to meet a loving couple who took in a dog, Barley, as well as criminal. Through the animal’s experience I enjoyed each scene. It was beautiful, to watch. Struggles, new relationships, friendship and a lot more can be found inside this book. The Dog Who Was There is an epic page turning read. Both the title and cover lured me to read it, and I am estastic that I did. Overall, I recommend to all Christians. Truly, a perfect read.

Review: Scorch Road

Synopsis:

A new romantic action adventure series for fans of romance thriller suspense and family romance sagas!

One of six Italian brothers and a sister, JT Luciano is a widowed environmental biologist with a touch of the Sight who is preparing for an apocalyptic event he knows is coming. Holed up at the military survival camp prepared for his family, the Haven, JT is ready for whatever might come… except for one woman.

Dr. Elizabeth Johnson, virologist and Senator’s daughter, is carrying precious cells for a vaccine against the swiftly-evolving, deadly flu that’s sweeping the nation. Her plane crashes in JT’s potato field—and she must convince him to leave the Haven and help her get to Washington, DC.

One by one, the structures of society implode in the face of the flu’s devastation as JT and Elizabeth travel a scorching road cross country.

Can danger bring them together to find one good, true thing in a changing world?

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Scorching Road by both Toby Neal and Emily Kimelman is as exactly as it sounds…scorching hot! I have read previous books by the talented writer, Toby Neal, and I was immediately taken to this new title. I know this work was a piece featured by two writers and I couldn’t distinguish either writer’s handiwork within the novel. It read as tho it had been written only by one. These two writers have a unique talent in making a deeply suspenseful yet sexy tale. There’s a flu that is proving deadly across the nation. Dr. Elizabeth Johnson and her partner were working on the vaccine. Only her partner finally got it down…yet it cost him his life. Now, the vaccine is in her hands and it will take everything she has to get it completed in time. But things get complicated. Her plane crashes…she meets a man unlike any other and together they venture out for one of the toughest journeys ever told. Epic, stunning, and brilliantly woven. I couldn’t stop reading, Scorching Road. This romantic suspense piece kept me hooked from beginning to end. I look forward to the next grand scheme by these writers. They sure knew how to capture my attention inside this exciting plot. Overall, I highly recommend it to readers everywhere.

Review: The Friend Zone

Synopsis:

Chloe: 

Moses has been my best friend since kindergarten. We met when I shoved him face first in the dirt and took his action figures. Ever since, we’ve been tighter than blood, but we’re not blood, and my body knows that. My heart has known that for years. 

The fact that being a pole dancer has interfered with my relationship status is an understatement. Moses is literally the longest I’ve been with a man, except I’m not really ‘with’ him. 
Now I’m approaching a place where I’m curious enough to tell him about my feelings. I’ve gotten close, but a man as hot as my bestie has had really small gaps between girlfriends. I know it could be a big mistake, and he’s never seen me that way, but I won’t know for sure unless I act right? Only problem is, I might be too late again.
Moses:

I’m not blind to the fact that my best friend is dangerously hot. She’s basically every man’s dream but she’s not mine. I’m the one that protects her, councils her, and encourages her, knowing she will do the same for me. She’s my girl. 
But now something is different, and I can’t put a name to it. Something feels changed, but I’m putting all that on the back burner because I think I found my perfect girlfriend. 
Still, Chloe is in my head; I’m not sure she would handle knowing that. After all, I’m in the friend zone…
Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Nicole Strycharz is indeed one of the most talented female writers of this day. Her characters send you into their stories. Making readers want to know every gritty and dark secret they hold. I laughed, cried, and fell deeply in love. Friends is easy. But being good looking plus, awesome friends…tends to stretch the friend zones the characters are inside of…once that is stretched to a boiling, it never goes back to being the same. 

Chloe has known Moses all her life just about and she has fallen head over heels for him. But the issues it that she doesn’t want to admit. At least not until, Moses thinks he has found the girl, the it woman for himself. That’s when all her reserves start unweaving. She wants him. Jealousy, a bit of anger, and so much lust. Chloe doesn’t want to ruin her friendship. She let’s Moses do his thing…but as each day nears, she’s going crazy with not being open about her heart. 

Moses is the guy all women need. He’s the good friend that can be relied on and love.  Love more than a friend…heck yes. He’s sexy as sin with a charming personality to match it. His over protectiveness he feels towards Chloe, his best friend, should give him signs he’s in love with her. But he ignores the feelings. Doesn’t want to ruin his friendship with her. After all, they friend zoned each other. But despite moving on…he can’t stop thinking about Chloe…

The Friend Zone by Nicole Strycharz leds readers on an epic roller coaster ride. I personally would love to see this novel on the big screens. I’m already trying to think of which leading stars will play Chloe and Moses as well as they’re bad dating partners. This novel has a way of wrapping itself deep around me and pulling me further into its plot. Fast-paced, exciting, and heart melting. They are times, I want to shout out at the lead characters and say, “kiss and marry, already! It’s obvious you guys are perfect for one another!” Yet neither one is sure they would make it as a couple. Both are scared of their feelings in a way. It’s so believable…I felt like I was watching the scenes come alive instead of just reading about them. Nicole Strycharz amazed me with her Duke of Goldenshire, then her novel called, The Divorce, and now, this one. I am stunned. Raw talent award goes to…Nicole Strycharz. She doesn’t just write novels, she takes life and captures it into her book and creates real people in her characters. I love it. Can’t get enough of this writer’s novels. She goes out and beyond each time creating the best masterpiece. Nicole Strycharz’s talent knows no boundaries and is limitless, that’s what I love about her books. You can run free and live inside of them. Perfect romance every time. Overall, The Friend Zone is a definite read for all. 

Review: Long Way Gone

Synopsis:

“No matter where you go, no matter whether you succeed or fail, stand or fall, no gone is too far gone. You can always come home.”

At the age of eighteen, musician and songwriter Cooper O’Connor took everything his father held dear and drove 1,200 miles from home to Nashville, his life riding on a six-string guitar and the bold wager that he had talent. But his wager soon proved foolish.

Five years after losing everything, he falls in love with Daley Cross, an angelic voice in need of a song. But just as he realizes his love for Daley, Cooper faces a tragedy that threatens his life as well as his career. With nowhere else to go, he returns home to the remote Colorado mountains, searching for answers about his father and his faith.

When Daley shows up on his street corner twenty years later, he wonders if it’s too late to tell her the truth about his past—and if he is ready to face it himself.

A radical retelling of the prodigal son story, Long Way Gone takes us from tent revivals to the Ryman Auditorium to the tender relationship between a broken man and the father who never stopped calling him home.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Long Way Gone by Charles Martin is truly a phenomenal story. I couldn’t believe the writer’s talent. I kept asking myself why or how I haven’t read any of his previous books until now…absolutely amazing. The tale instantly hooks readers into the plot. It was memorizing. The heart and soul can be felt with every page. At first the tale reminded me of the biblical tale about the older son leaving and then returning home. In a way this was similar to that. The main character, Cooper O’Conner is one that readers like myself will never forget. His journey was epic. Sad, realities, and heartfelt. It makes me want to reach out to the character. The past can only hold us back from our futures if we let it. That was the theme I strongly senesed inside here as well as one of redemption and love. Then there was also, hope. The ending was heart melting. I loved reading this latest novel by Charles Martin. He definitely knows how to wrap his words around and into readers’ hearts. Overall, I recommend this coming of age read to readers worldwide. 

Review: Stray Son

Synopsis:

Stray Son is an adult novel telling the story of a haunted Vietnam vet in the year 2000, reduced to working for a Santa Barbara mortuary, picking up dead bodies. One day he picks up a live one—his elderly father’s young ghost, a WWII Marine who starts following him around town. Then son receives a phone call that his old father just died. At that moment the young Marine knocks on the son’s trailer door. The grieving, confused son can no longer keep this apparition from his wife and kids—and opens the door. The Marine finally declares why he is there: to straighten out his stray son—and bum a ride to see his dying mother in a 1942 Sioux City, Iowa hospital. The son needs to take his family to Sioux City in the year 2000 to attend his father’s funeral. So the young father and the old son take their battles back to World War II on a trip across a wartime America towards death and an elusive reconciliation.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Stray Son by Richard Slota is an interesting piece of literature. Here, readers go one a ride of a lifetime. Traveling between the character’s past and present. Themes like family, love, and redemption are woven into the tale. Stray Son is a novel that leaves readers following Patrick. Patrick defys the norm when it comes to fictional characters in a way. He’s day job is peculiar yet he pays the bills. Bills like the months of rent. His job is to pick up dead bodies. Bodies of people that just died. Then, there’s his life background that made me feel sympathy for him. Soon, he sees a ghost and thinks he’s losing it. Only he can see a Marine. A Marine ghost that doesn’t stop following everywhere. Until, he introduces the ghost to his family once he found out that his father died. Sort of. Now, as a ghost and staying near the son he kicked out…is a lot to swallow. I found this tale stunning, heartbreaking, and realistic. The emotional journey of father and son is one that readers won’t be forgetting. It will stay with me forever. The sadness became my own. The life that the older son, Patrick had to live through because of his mother and father…was crazy. Yet in the end, it was good. Saddening in a good way. Then, somehow, when readers will least expect it, Richard Slota, surprises readers once more. Stray Son, is a great story. So much was packed into it. I felt like I was swallowed into one of those movies that make the watcher cry endlessly. Sad but good tears. Overall, I loved this powerful yet gritty novel. I recommend it to readers everywhere. 

About the Author
My life is about going for the long odds, so of course I’ve written a literary novel, Stray Son. I assisted at autopsies in the army during Vietnam and worked countless hard scrabble jobs since. I earned my Masters in Creative Writing, have BA’s in Theater Arts and Psychology and I am a produced playwright and published poet.

Review: Deborah Rising

 

Synopsis:

Set in ancient Israel, Deborah Rising (HarperCollins, 2016) portrays the dramatic (and unlikely) rise of the first woman to lead a nation in recorded human history. In the tradition of The Red Tent, The Fifth Mountain, and The Mists of Avalon, this absorbing novel delivers an inspiring story of suspense and adventure in pursuit of freedom and self-determination, starring a courageous 14-year-old girl who would become the most powerful woman in biblical lore.
Before he was murdered, Deborah’s father had dreamt that his daughter would one day become the leader of the Israelites. But the social and religious mores of her time dictated that a girl must marry–even against her will–and obey her husband in all matters. When Deborah is forced to marry the violent son of the local judge, she rebels, determined to forge a path of her own.

Captivated by the notion of escaping the arranged marriage and fulfilling her late father’s dream, Deborah embarks upon an epic journey to find a mysterious elixirist, one rumored to be blessed with the ability to turn women into men. It is a journey that proves increasingly perilous–filled with wild beasts, lustful men, unscrupulous priests, and warring tribesmen. Yet Deborah manages to attract unlikely allies, including lepers, slaves, Moabite traders, and even a dead tiger, while she persists in the face of seemingly insurmountable setbacks and continues to pursue her daring quest.
Part historical novel, part adventure story, part visionary fiction, Deborah Rising is a captivating tale about a girl on the cusp of womanhood, whose unrelenting struggle to overcome discrimination, sexism, and paternalism spoke to the lives of girls and women today.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Deborah Rising by Avraham Azrieli is a stunning historical fantasy. One that has an epic journey that no reader could guess. It’s nothing like anything I have read. This novel brings about some historical people and their customs as well as what kind of lives they lived back then. I was constantly intrigued by the story. Each page sent me on another journey. the main journey was one that a father passed down to his youngest. After losing her parents and her older sister, the young girl sets off to fulfill her destiny. However, trouble comes her way each time. The men from her land are worshiping idols and killing innocents due to lies and greed. The lives of women are similar to those of the Indian customs. Many women are controlled by men. A paternal ruling that still survives, today. I was frightened by what the women went through constantly. Even if they followed rules by their society there was always a man or men who abused them. Sadly, many are stuck in this threatening lifestyle. Like Deborah’s older sister. One false accusation and she like many other women were stoned to death over a lie. Women were not permitted to speak on their defense. I almost wished Deborah’s sister retaliated. Imagine letting your own people stone for no reason at all. Why should the innocent be slaughtered so easily? Realistically told and captured the time period perfectly. Avraham Azrieli is indeed a talented new author. His work can be read by teens and adults. The issues presented in this novel were strong yet the material was done in a clean manner. After reading this book, I felt like I traveled back in history. The young woman’s journey was quite fascinating to follow. An adventure that is both intriguing and entertaining. Deborah Rising is a YA religious tale, that I highly recommend to readers worldwide. I believe that the issues shown in this title are ones that need to be read by all.

Review: Sealionaire (Book 3)

 

Synopsis:

No More Cliffhangers! The series is now complete!

Keeping his hands, his mind, his eyes, his mouth, his everything, off of Olivia “O” Darling, has proven to be a bit harder than former Navy SEAL Adam “Reaper” Dedman can handle.
Not only does she drive him crazy, she makes him laugh.
When an attack endangers both of them, he discovers there is little he won’t do to protect her.

Don’t miss the thrilling conclusion to SEALionaire, the sexy Navy SEAL romance by MS Parker and Shiloh Walker.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Sealionaire (Book 3) by both MS Parker and Shiloh Walker is the final journey. First off, I have to say that both MS Parker and Shiloh Walker are a great team. Their combined writing efforts in making this series were fantastic. I was already a major fan of Shiloh Walker’s novels. Her stories brilliant. Then, reading this new series introduced me to another talented writer, MS Parker. I will now, be looking out for her novels as well. Hot, sexy, and a book readers won’t be able to resist. I couldn’t put it down. This last story had every element I loved. Danger, raw desires, and a suspense that kept me lured. Baited me instantly. Hooked me after reading the first page. The ending was explosive.

Sealionaire (Book 3) offered a sexy Navy Seal as the bodyguard. I can already sense the appeal. A man who knows how to react to a deadly environment as well as protecting the innocent. Here, his job just got more interesting. He will have to put every skill he knows into saving a woman. A woman who has him so aroused that it’s hard not to grin. The tipping was that the leading female character felt just as intensely about the bodyguard as he did her. As the threat of danger rose so, did their heat and attraction for one another. Absolutely, charming and steamy. After reading this romantic suspense tale, readers will be begging for more. It’s a read, readers can’t miss. Overall, I highly recommend Sealionaire (book 3) to readers everywhere.

Review: The Sword Chronicles

 

Synopsis:

She is a Dog – one of the many children and teens across the empire of Ansborn who have been sentenced to fight in the arenas. There they fight in battle after battle until they die for the sport of the people of Ansborn – an empire built atop the peaks of five mountains.

But one day she picks up a knife… and everything changes.

She discovers she is a Greater Gift – one of a handful of magic users with powers so great they have only two choices: to join the Empire as one of its premier assassins or die as a threat to the Empire itself.

She is no longer a Dog. Now, she is Sword. And she will soon realize that in this Empire, not all is what it seems. Good and evil collide, and she can never be sure whom to trust – not even herself.

She holds life in her hands for some. Brings death by her blade to others.

She is a killer.
She is a savior.
She is Sword.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Sword Chronicles by Michaelbrent Collings is an excellent adventure waiting at readers fingertips. This brilliant world of fiction is a fantasy that will take readers into the heart of life, death, and truth. A journey of discovery, determination, and a rise to a new rank. This novel is definitely for fans of the Hunger Games, Twilight, and The Lord of the Rings, then this novel is definitely for you.

The Sword of Chronicles takes readers on one girl’s journey from her past fate to her future one. She is deemed a dog to fight until she dies just for other’s entertainment…until something remarkable happens. Now, after having picked up a sword…she discovers she has a lot more power than before and is no longer a dog but a sword. Michaelbrent Collings masterfully weaves many elements in this story that will leave readers sympathizing with the character to rooting her on as she goes about full-filling her new destiny. But life just got more complicated and difficult instead of easier for her…she now has two choices become an assassin for the empire or to die…But not everything is what it seems…I highly recommend this brilliant YA novel to readers worldwide. This was the first novel I have read by Michaelbrent Collings and I loved reading it. The Sword Chronicles is stunning, adventurous, and absolutely entertaining.

 

Review: The Shadow of War (The Great War)

 

Synopsis:

The Shadow of War is the first novel in Stewart Binns’s new series which will see a book release for each year of the First World War.
June 1914.
The beginning of another long, prosperous summer for Britain. But beneath the clear skies, all is not as it seem – as the chill wind of social discontent swirls around this sceptred isle.
Shots ring out in a distant European land – the assassination of a foreign aristocrat. From that moment the entire world is propelled into a conflict unlike any seen before.
This is the story of five British communities, their circumstances very different, but who will all share in the tragedy that is to come. All that they have known will be changed for ever by the catastrophic events of the Great War.
This is a story of love and comradeship, of hatred and tragedy – this is the story of the Great War.
The Shadow of War, the first novel in The Great War series from Stewart Binns, is a thrilling read and perfect for those who enjoy the writing of Conn Iggulden and Bernard Cornwell.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Shadow of War by Stewart Binns is a sensational historical piece. Readers, who were born way after this war and WWII, will finally be able to get an insider’s view to the battle that happened in  June 1914. Stewart Binn’s novel takes readers deep into the historical events of the war. The people it affected and the places it took place. Brilliantly well-written and the characters are well-developed. Readers will feel like they went back in time and are experiencing it all first hand. The battles were real, the losses were many, and suffering all around you. Men going into the unknown to fight off enemies. Rich and poor will go through the war experience alike. Death…is like a black cloud that consumes men. Never know if you will survive the war or not. The fear feels so real, readers will feel their foreheads sweat in anticipation…and shivers down their spines.

The Shadow of War by Stewart Binns captures the realism of the war and the people involved. Stewart Binns definitely knows how to bring history alive to his readers fingertips. I love history. This story was fast-paced, thrilling, and absolutely spectacular. The people who lived during this time period were fascinating. Readers will get a glimpse into those people’s lives especially the poor ones. Railroads taking away business from towns…are left struggling to keep their towns running. Education, water, and illnesses are transparent all inside this great read. It was like watching it all come live in front of one’s eyes. I can see this book and many others by this talented writer in becoming a movie series. Not many today understand, remember, or know what it was like during this time period…until the read this fictional piece containing the historical realistic times in an entertaining book. Stewart Binns also beautifully captures the Pennine dialect of the North-East Lancashire. Dwindling resources….war…death…and much more is penned perfectly for all to enjoy. I look forward to reading more novels in the future by Stewart Binns…he writes his historical fiction in a way the allows everyone to understand and witness the war. Overall, I highly recommend this novel to readers worldwide.

Book Review Corsana by Charles Wellington II

Corsana  is a highly engaging and suspenseful novel I have ever read. Charles Wellington II has written a beautiful epic fantasy that readers will continue to love and read over and over again. A stunning novel of how one human man wants to become a hero. A psionic human being who has the ability to to will things to happen with his mind. Christopher Knight wanted to be a hero but little did he think it would involve hanging from the ceiling of a cave being tortured, and getting his face pummeled by an orc, wasn’t part of the dream.  When ships start to disappear and his mayor calls for people to explore what’s happening, Christopher Knight rushes to the scene and battles his way through to be the hero. Christopher soon finds himself battling against things he never imagined and against all odds. Will he make it?

Corsana has a way of drawing in readers from the beginning and keeps them locked in until the end. Charles Wellington has created an intriguing world where what you thought couldn’t happen does, and where one man’s ability takes him into  something much bigger than ever imagined. I loved reading this brilliant well written novel and look forward to reading more novels in this exciting and highly thrilling series. I recommend this to readers all over and rate it a five out of five stars.